Delhi govt adds 70 ambulances to its fleet

The Delhi government has added 70 ambulances to its fleet of centralised accident and trauma services (CATS) ambulances, following widespread criticism over the problem of lack of facilities to transport patients to hospitals.

New Delhi: The Delhi government has added 70 ambulances to its fleet of centralised accident and trauma services (CATS) ambulances, following widespread criticism over the problem of lack of facilities to transport patients to hospitals.

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This has taken the total fleet of CATS ambulances to 101, with a combination of 21 advanced life support (ALS), 10 basic life support (BLS) and 70 simple ambulances.
The ambulances are fitted with resuscitation kits, first-aid boxes, ambu bags to help in breathing, oxygen cylinders and accessories. The ALS ambulances are also fitted with ventilators.

In addition to the ambulances, the state health department has also recruited 450 ambulance staffers that includes 225 paramedics and the same number of drivers.
“We have paramedics trained in seven hospitals including AIIMS and RML in trauma care, obstetrics, basic life support. Even the drivers have been trained to give first-aid,” said Anshu Prakash, principal secretary (health), Delhi government.

“Apart from accident cases, these ambulances will also be used to transfer pregnant women from their homes to hospitals for delivery,” he added.